Discover Rwanda

Rwanda is a green, mountainous landscape renowned for its Volcanoes National Park that encompasses the 4,507m-tall Mt. Karisimbi and 4 other forested volcanoes, as well as being home to mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. Adding to that the Nyungwe National Park, with ancient mountain rainforest that’s a habitat for chimpanzees and other primates, the vast Akagera National park and other iconic sites, your visit to the YouthConnekt Africa Summit will present unique opportunities to enrich your travel experience by exploring the Land of Thousand Hills.

Gorilla Trekking

When visiting the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’, one should not miss out on the magnificent opportunity to visit Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park consisting of 125 sq km of mountain forest and home to the six Virunga Volcanoes and the world famous mountain gorillas. Protected within the park, the lushly forested slopes of the mountains form an appropriately dramatic natural setting for what is arguably the most poignant and memorable wildlife experience in the world: gorilla trekking.
Nothing can prepare one for the impact of encountering a fully-grown silverback gorilla, up to three times the size of an average man, yet remarkably peaceable and tolerant of human visitors.

King's Palace

Based in Nyanza, 88 km south of Kigali City, this was the residence of King Mutara III Rudahigwa and the Royal Palace that was traditionally built. This Palace offers a detailed look into Rwandan traditional seat of their monarchy, it is an impressive museum, restored to its 19th century state and made entirely with traditional materials. Recently the Long horned Traditional cows, known in Kinyarwanda as “Inyambo” were also introduced because of the fact that cows form an integral part of Rwandan Culture . On the neighboring hill of Mwima, one can also visit the burial grounds of King Mutara III and his wife Queen Rosalie Gicanda.

Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park has exceptional levels of biodiversity and forms the largest protected wetland in central Africa. It is home to a large variety of species restricted to the papyrus swamps such as the Sitatun sought-after Shoebill Stork.Notable game includes elephant, buffalo, topi, zebra, waterbuck, roan antelope and eland. Other antelope are duiker, oribi, bohor reedbuck, klipspringer, bushbuck and impala. Of the primates, olive baboons, vervets and the secretive blue monkey are seen during the day, with bushbabies often seen on night drives.Larger predators including leopard, hyena, side- striped jackal and lion are also present in the park.

Nyungwe National Park

Nyungwe is one of the world’s most beautiful and pristine mountain rainforests. It’s believed to be one of Africa’s oldest forests, staying green even through the Ice Age, which explains its diversity. Home to habituated chimpanzees and 12 other primates species (including a 400-strong troop of habituated Ruwenzori Black & White Colobus), it’s also a birder’s paradise with over 300 species, including 16 endemics, and is home to 75 different species of mammal.Hiking or even biking the beautiful terrain, tracking the famous chimpanzees, experiencing the canopy walk, witnessing beautiful birds, relaxing by waterfalls are just a glimpse of activities that Nyungwe offers.

Genocide Memorial

In 2001, in collaboration with Rwanda’s National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide (CNLG), the Aegis Trust raised the $2 million required to build the Kigali Genocide Memorial. The centre was officially opened on 7 April 2004 to mark the tenth commemoration of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The memorial is the final resting place for up to 259,000 victims of the genocide and serves as a place where people can grieve for their lost loved ones and remember them. It also serves as a museum where both local and international visitors can learn about the history, implementation and consequences of the genocide.